How We Got Here

The Affordable Housing Acceleration Initiative was developed in response to Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Priorities Plan, with some program elements influenced by provincial legislation.

Funded by Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), Council directed City staff to proceed with a two-phase work plan for the initiative in June 2024. 

Phase 1 (June 2024 – February 2025)

This phase amended the City’s Zoning Bylaw to pre-zone properties, allowing eligible affordable rental housing projects of up to six storeys to skip rezoning.

Bylaw changes were developed through a combination of background research and analysis, interviews with non-profit housing providers, engagement with community members via Be Heard New West and an online information session, and discussions with various City departments.

Phase 2 (February 2025 – February 2026)

As part of City’s OCP update, this phase amended the OCP to allow eligible non-profit affordable rental housing, up to six storeys, to be built on sites designed in the OCP for “Residential – Townhouse”. A site-specific rezoning application is required. Additional Zoning Bylaw amendments were made to expand pre-zoning for eligible affordable rental housing projects, up to six storeys, into the City’s Transit Oriented Development Areas.

Through Be Heard New West and in-person and virtual open houses, staff engaged with residents and interest groups to understand how these changes might best reflect the community’s values and our city’s physical context. Suggestions, feedback, and comments were analyzed and combined with legal and technical requirements to create the OCP and Zoning Bylaw amendments.